fishing on Lk. St. Clair

[jenga]

My brothers and I are going smallmouth fishing on lk. St. Clair on May 18th.  I am looking for some info on the lake and what to use.  This is our first time fishing for smallmouth.  Also some good places to fish would be great.

thanks.

Jenga

[Siebert Outdoors]

4" green pumpkin tube, rattle trap, x rap, chart/white or all white spinnerbait

That is all you need

[roadwarrior]

Welcome aboard!

I would pack a few bags of Fat Ika, too.

[noway]

Scroll down to Lake St. Clair

http://www.michigansportsmanmag.com/fishing/bass-fishing/mi_aa062504a/index1.html

See favorite bait

http://www.greatlakesbassfishing.com/guides.html

[MALTESE FALCON]

If you fish in May, the smallies will be just about anywhere close to shore. That time of year I don't even have to put my boat on plane. I come out of my canal and start fishing. That's my favorite time of year to fish for them. The big bruisers are plentiful.

Some of the real good spots are Anchor Bay (my backyard), Metro Beach, Grassy Island, the Spillway, Strawberry Island, the Dumping Grounds.

If you come in May, you'll be catching Walleye, Pike, and Muskies also. It's a great time to be fishing St. Clair.

If you have any questions P.M. me.

Falcon

[Garnet]

Smoke with purple and any color with purple they will be shallow. Spinnerbaits and jerkbaits and rattle traps.

Garnet

[NBR]

Since moving away from St. Clair a few years ago I've lost touch but didn't the LSC bass season open on both the MI and ONT side on the ONT opener which this year would be June 23? Has this changed? I might have to make an early season return.

[MALTESE FALCON]

They are now allowing "catch and immediate release" until the opener.

Falcon

[Jnamo]

Does the statewide season not open until the last Friday in May.  I am not sure if you can target smallies on LSC early or not.  I would look it up and find out for sure.  

Jeff

[MALTESE FALCON]

Check fishing guide. Bottom of page 8 where the red letters state: Catch and immediate release season.

"Lake St. Clair, St Clair River, and Detroit River from last Saturday in April-Friday before the third Saturday in June".

Just don't have any in your livewell and you're OK.

Falcon

[Jnamo]

thanks m f.

must be nice to be on the lake!  i cant imagine!

[MALTESE FALCON]

Jnamo,

You're welcome. It isn't the most clearly worded note. It could have been a seperate note in my opinion.

Yes it's very nice living the water. Believe it or not, it was my wife's idea. The best thing about living on the water, is not having to deal with all the screwballs at the boat ramp every time I go fishing.

Falcon

[john087]

Just make sure that you don't go into Canada and start bass fishing or you will be in trouble! The best rock piles are over there but don't even think about it! You will need to cover as much water as possible to look for schools, try fishing around the Detroit River Mouth or if you can get down to the Erie river mouth you will knock them dead, there are a couple of hot ponds on Erie that are always warmer those can be aweome that time fo year, St. Clair is never the best fishery and will stink now that the new rules about transporting fish are in effect! Anyways extreme tackle canadian mist tubes will knock them dead, wayne designed them from years of being on the lake and after hundreds of hours of watching fish with his camera.

[MALTESE FALCON]

john087,

I don't know part of Lake St. Clair you've been fishing on, but to say it's "never the best" is a bit off base. I don't know what part of the lake you fish, but if you fish the areas I mentioned you'll catch smallies along with walleyes, muskies, and pike.

I've seen a few interviews with KVD and he said his favorite lake was St. Clair. That's a pretty good endorsement.

You can also ask GMAN on this site, he was here last spring and he said it was phenomenal.

I think if you come here and give it another chance you might change your mind.

Just my opinion,

Falcon

[squid]

I LOVE THAT LAKE.....THERE IS AN OPEN ON THE 16TH OF JUNE....CAN'T WAIT TO THROW SOME TUBES.

[john087]

Sure you can catch tons of bass out there and they are easy as pie to catch but you have to know where to look for the ones that don't get messed with much, to get numbers of giants. I was more putting the word out to cover a lot of water cause when you catch one hundreds can be close by and it's not fun until you find them, then it's amazing! Still though St. Clair can't even compare to Erie, that's what I meant by never the best. I tried to stay away from places like Windmill Point and Belle River Hump when I fish out there and find things that other people don't fish. When you are out there the lake is so flat that literally a foot ledge on the bottom can hold hundreds of killer smallmouth. Check the weed spots in Anchor Bay, there's 2 for that place, and right in front of Harley Ensign landing can be awesome in the early spring too.

[logger]

4" green pumpkin tube, rattle trap, x rap, chart/white or all white spinnerbait

That is all you need

2nd that

TUBES TUBES TUBES. Pumpkin, smoke, motor oil colors.

[T-rig]

WELCOME!

[logger]

Another spot to try would be the breakwalls at the Grosse Pointe Farms and city parks, lots of rocks around them I always had luck fishing off the walls. You'll have a blast!!

[MALTESE FALCON]

Good point Logger, I forgot about that spot.

You can fish there on the way to the Dumping Grounds. We used to fish that spot, and around the docks at the Grosse Pointe Yacht Club and get the snobs upset. (they think they own the water too)

John087, what do you consider a giant? Since 2001, I've caught over 100 smallies over six pounds. My biggest is six pounds fifteen ounces. I've also caught over 250 five pounds and over. I can check my spread sheet for exact amounts if you like.

I don't mean to sound harsh, I just don't think you are giving Jenga accurate information. You are right, you can catch a ton of 2-3 pound fish all day, but you will also get your fair share of "Wall Hangers".

Falcon

[wballard77]

:-/

Long time reader first time poster! The question that I have for you St. Clair frequent fishers is about boating safety. I am looking @ a map and most of the areas look extremely shallow, do you have any suggestion for a first timer on this lake? Were to and were not to go? I don't really want sand in my lower unit.

[MALTESE FALCON]

Welcome wballard77,

Lake St. Clair is a fairly shallow lake (average about 10') but the only place that I stay away from is the northern part of Anchor Bay. If you launch at any of the Public Access sites on Anchor Bay you won't have any trouble. Sometimes the ramp at Branderbberg Park has a problem about 30-40 yards out, there is a sandbar. If you have any questions P.M. me. I've lived on the lake for many years.

Falcon

[Jnamo]

Falcon, do you fish any tourneys out on St. Clair?  Are you in a club?  

Jeff

[MALTESE FALCON]

I don't fish tourneys anymore because of my spine problems (I've had six spine surgeries due to an auto accident). I can only spend two or three hours at a time in the boat. Then there those days when I can't even go out. When I'm out there I'm in Heaven though.

The only club I belong to is right here.

Falcon

[roadwarrior]

Welcome aboard!